I have been trying to get the hang of the blood knot. It seems that it is basically 2 classic knots that connect each other together. My trouble is once i wrap the tag end and bring it through what is the best way to finish the knot. I have dampened the twists to allow a smoother slide. but do you pull both tag ends or putt the line itself. I want to get the hang of this knot to start tying my own tapered leaders.

Any insight?

Posted on: 2012/4/9 14:09

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"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."

The key to blood knots for me is twofold. First finger position and second tag lengths. First finger positon. After taking the right hand piece around 4 times I come up through the two pieces of line and run the piece over my index finger and use the middle finger to hold it in place and then wrap the left hand section 4 times and bring it down through the loop created. I pull both tags tight, moisten with my saliva and then pull the other ends to complete the knot. Clip the tag ends flush. Second, if you have long enough tag ends, you simply pull on the other two ends and the tag ends will not come back through. My standard formula for tying knotted leaders is to start the knot 1.5" less than I want the section to be. So if I'm connecting .015 to .013 and I want the .015 section to be 12" start my blood knot at 10.5".

Thanks for the insight. I was reading up and watching videos on you tube and they were suggesting 8 wraps.

no wonder my line was flying all over the place.

So when you pull the tag ends tight is snugs it up a bit to prevent slippage that when you pull the line ends it completes. I will keep playing with this i have to that were completed sucessfully and the other were the know but perpendicular to the line. I think i figured out what i did wrong with those however.

Posted on: 2012/4/9 14:40

_________________
"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."

i wish to debate this a lil bit when using mono or flouro that is at least two sizes or diameters different a 5/7 blood knot is better... 5 wrps of the heavier material,and 7 wraps of the thinner material.. i believe its 0.002" difference in material this know will not slip like a normal blood knot that sometimes fails.

When making leaders at home, I make proper blood knots. But sometimes on stream I struggle a lot to do it, especially if cold or in a hurry. In those cases, I give up, lol.

I instead make double clinch knots, just both lines clinched to the other. I know technically it's not as strong, but it never breaks on me, even with steelhead and such, and it stays in line like a blood knot. And it's easier because you can do one knot then the other. I never break fish off, I only break lines when snagged. Honestly, probably 1 a year, no more.

I think Lonewolve is suggesting the different wrap totals for lines we dont normally bloodknot. His example is tying a 7x directly to a 5x. This is interesting and will be tried by me next time as I assure you sometime this year I'll be out of 6x while on the stream.I can make it work with the normal knot method, but it never really seems to set quite right upon tightening, no matter how much assistance and manipulation.

I often blood knot 7x to 5x and don't really keep track of the wraps, which are anywhere from 4-6, maybe 7 since I'm not sure if passing thru the tag end adds another, usually try for 5 but sometimes lose count if I see a rise while re-rigging...

I pretty much use a blood knot or my basterdized version of the blood knot only, throughout the leader, regardless of line diameters. There will be a nail knot to join leader and fly line. There will be a clinch to join tippet to fly. Everything in between is blood knots.

Sorry if you mistook me for saying a four wrap blood knot is bad, not what i meant at all.an yes i know how to tie knots properly as well as always spit on them before i ever even tighten them.The 5/7 Blood Knot is for ex tieng 5x to 3x or like that an believe me it does work.I also know you can say what you want but up On the Great Lake Tribs where you deal with large Salmonids on a constant basis i am speaking particularly of Lake Ontario sooner or later a blood knot will fail . Murphy can strike when you least expect it, give it a try, especially when yer streamside an run out of say 5x and have to knot 6x to 4x......... i wasnt trying to demean your methods only to introduce another option is all. I also enjoy using a surgeons knot too

Rick - The guy that popularized the 5/7 blood knot is Gary Borger. He recommends it for knotting material that is greater than .002" difference in diameter. In other words, materials greater than two "X-sizes" different. So 3X to 5X is OK to use an equal turn blood knot. The knot doesn't form well if the difference in diameter is too great between the knotted sections, hence the risk of knot failure.

I never use a blood knot on smaller than 2X tippet material. A double or triple surgeon's knot is quicker and easier for me to tie.